Disclaimer: Aren't you wondering how many times this is put up in every CCS fic? I don't own it.

Author's blabberings: Gomen ne, gomen ne, gomen ne! This is the real chappie 8. I finally found my diskette that contains the chapters. Thank God! Anyway, this chapter is just to clear up why Syaoran-kun had to leave in chappie 9. Right!

CHAPTER 8: DINNER WITH A FRIEND

The next few days, Tomoyo acted brightly as usual as if nothing happened between her and Eriol. Although, Eriol noticed, that even though they had made up, she was still slightly distant with him. She would slightly subdue and force a polite smile when it comes to him. He couldn't understand why but he knew she was still a bit annoyed at him. Girls just couldn't get over their grudges, even after a long time. Talk about overly sensitive.

Tomoyo fought back a yawn as she listened to the droning of one of the executive managers of the corporation during one of their meetings about something that seems to be important yet uninteresting. It was like being stuck back in her History class back in her high school days. It was really boring her to death.

She stared at the wall clock above the white screen and stifled a groan. If only staring at it would make it go faster…The last time she looked at it, it was 2:20. Now it was 2:25. 5 minutes felt like an eternity for her. She felt like she just entered another dimension where time flowed like honey.

She propped her right elbow on the seat's arm and cupped her chin, trying to concentrate. For the first minute, she could catch up with the conversation. But then, she felt her interest slowly slipping down to her lap, then to her pen, then back to the carpeted floor. And no sooner than a couple more minutes, her concentration was out the window, over the city of London. And, because of her slipping concentration, her elbow slipped from the arm of her chair as well.

"Careful…" Eriol murmured quietly. He caught her arm and her chin just in time before it hit the table. "You can't fall asleep."

She blinked twice, hoping that would wake her up. "I couldn't help it…" she whispered slowly, pinching herself. "Can't I just be excused? It's too boring."

"You can't…"

She sighed and tried to sit up straight. But after a while, she was back in her semi-slouching position, looking at the screen dazedly. "Hiiragizawa-kun, I just couldn't…keep… up anymore."

She heard him sigh and shuffle a few papers. "Just… Just finish this, okay? After this, you can go back to your office and sleep there. I'll have Li to do the rest of your work."

Tomoyo quickly sat up and turned to him, her eyes shocked and amazed at the same time. She smiled amusedly. "I didn't think I'd hear that from you…" she said quietly. "Considering you're a workaholic…"

Eriol ignored her, clearing his throat so as not to draw attention to Tomoyo. He then started to comment on what the manager was saying, not even looking at her.

She smiled languidly. She didn't think he'd say that to her, of all the people. Sometimes, Eriol does know how to be a human. He could actually feel and try to act like one, showing his emotions like that. Usually, the only emotions he feel are anger, irritation, impatience and lack of understanding. But now…

" Lady Daidouji!"

"H-Hai!" She sat up straight and stiffened when she felt all the eyes inside the room were looking her way. She smiled politely, not knowing what she should say. "Er… Gomen ne… Can you repeat that again? I wasn't really paying attention."

"Well, obviously!" A voice said sarcastically from the far end of the table and Tomoyo looked sharply at the speaker. It was none other than Evans himself. "You were too busy staring at Hiiragizawa!"

"Shut it!" Syaoran snapped but was a minute too late. Tomoyo had already thrown her pen at him, hitting the side of the Evans's head. He snickered, along with several other members. "You have a good aim, Daidouji."

"I try," she replied wryly, her glare still at Evans. "Now, Mr. Evans, if there's something you want to say, please raise you hand, or else I would've had you thrown out."

"I was merely stating—"

"You haven't got your hand up, Mr. Evans!" she said matter-of-factly. The young man glared back at her, grumbling under his breath. She smiled acidly at him. "Now, isn't this much better?"

She could see Eriol smirking at her, a proud glint in his dark blue eyes.

"Pardon me for that rude behavior of mine," Tomoyo apologized sweetly as another manager picked her pen and handed it back to her. "Sometimes, my hand tends to act instinctively whenever someone tries to interrupt me… Thank you."

They nodded, saying it was quite all right since she was rudely interrupted.

"Anyway, where was I…?" She pretended to think for a moment. "Ah, right! Can you please repeat it again?"

"We wanted to know your opinion about sending someone to our branch in Japan. Something seems to be out of hand there."

She nodded thoughtfully. "Of course, we have to send someone," she replied. "Our job as the main branch is to ensure that the other branches are working out just fine. We have to send someone over until the branch can already stand on its own."

"Okay… Well, we were wondering who we would send. I mean, not to be rude, but I think that—"

"No, the President will not go!" Eriol interjected sharply. "Just because she is Japanese doesn't mean she's the one we should send. She's still inexperienced in this kind of work."

Tomoyo nodded absently. Obviously, she didn't hear any of Eriol's words. She was still thinking deeply and after he had stopped speaking, she smiled meaningfully at the amber-eyed young man sitting a few seats away. "How about Syaoran-kun?" she said brightly.

"But, Miss President, why Li?" one of them asked.

"Well, why not him? After all, it was him and Akizuki-san who found me in Tomoeda," she replied casually. "Besides, I trust that he'd do a fine job."

"But—"

She raised an eyebrow. "Is there anyone, aside from me, Syaoran-kun and Hiiragizawa-kun, who is fluent in Japanese?" No one answered her inquiry. She smiled.

"I agree with her," Eriol said, although his voice sounded hesitant.

"But what about his work? He'll be gone for a week or two, depending on the problem."

"That wouldn't be a problem. I'm sure Hiiragizawa-kun could fill him in," she said breezily, earning a glare from the aforementioned person. "So? Is it settled then?"

Tsukishiro Yukito, the vice chairman of the board, as Tomoyo had found, nodded pleasantly. "Yes, it's settled."

"Very well, gentlemen. Meeting adjourned."

The men filed out and left the room. Evans stayed for a minute, still glaring at Tomoyo, then stormed out, followed by a few more men. The young President shrugged nonchalantly as she gathered her things, slipping her pen back in her jacket pocket. Syaoran went to her.

"Hey…" He tapped her shoulder. Tomoyo grinned at her. "Why me?"

"As I've said, why not you?" she countered. "I'm pretty sure you're the best man for the job. And we trust you, ne, Hiiragizawa-kun?"

"I guess so…" the blue-eyed CEO replied flatly.

Syaoran frowned at her. "You're not trying to…" He faltered when he caught her gaze. "Right… Okay… Thanks anyways…" He then left.

Eriol waited until he was gone before started to speak again. "Thanks?" he echoed. "For what?"

"Oh, Hiiragizawa-kun, you wouldn't understand anyway," she replied tiredly.

"What wouldn't I understand?" he shot back.

"Love…"

Eriol took a minute before he realized what was going on. "Wait a minute here!" he snapped as they stepped out into the hallway. "Don't tell me the reason you sent him was because of a girl!"

"Fine. I won't then." She walked casually to the elevator, leaving him behind, and yawned widely, not even bothering to stifle it or anything. "I'm hungry. I think I'll go to the cafeteria first."

He ran up to her, frowning. "You can't be serious, Daidouji. You chose him because there's someone he likes or someone who likes him in Japan?" he said in disbelief, stepping inside the metal box with her. "That is called deciding selfishly!"

Tomoyo threw him a penetrating gaze. "The problem with you is you only see yourself as the only capable man in the world!"

"No, I don't!"

"Sure you do," she scoffed. "From the sound of your tone, I'd say you don't trust Syaoran-kun at all."

He returned her look. "Fine, I admit I sometimes don't. But neither does he trust me!"

Tomoyo folded her arms across her chest. "Of course he does! You just don't feel it since you're too busy with your work!" She then walked away wordlessly when the elevator reached ground floor, leaving him there inside the elevator.

Strike one!

"Tomoyo-chan!" Nakuru called brightly as the young lady skipped inside the office, startling the lethargic girl who was sleeping on the desk. "Tomoyo-chan!"

The raven-haired young President rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "Nakuru-chan, is there something you need?" she mumbled.

"Are you okay, Tomoyo-chan?"

Tomoyo forced a sweet but tired smile. "Of course, I am!"

"Okay!" the auburn-haired lady replied animatedly. "Anyway, are you doing something tonight?" Tomoyo racked her brain for an appointment. Eriol didn't tell her anything about a meeting, right? When she couldn't think any, she shook her head and Nakuru grinned. "That's good! You see, I wanted to invite you over to dinner at my unit tonight!"

"That'd be great, Nakuru-chan. I promise I'll be there."

"Really? Okay! I'll give you my address!" The older woman tore a piece of paper from one of the papers lying on her desk and scrawled something there. It suspiciously looked like one of Eriol's business notes, but who the heck cares anyway? Tomoyo smilingly received the paper.

"Thanks, Nakuru-chan!"

"Right! Just give that to Mr. Cyrus and he'll drive you over to that address. I'm sure he knows that place. If you need any help, just call me in my cell okay? I'll expect you at 7."

Tomoyo nodded as the young woman left the room, settling her chin once more in her arms. She stared at the address, wondering where she'd seen it before. But after a while, she gave up thinking and turned the paper over. There were colors and notes like investments, loans and money-connected words.

When she traced where the paper had come from, she stifled a laugh. Surely, Eriol would be furious if he finds out one of the pages of his 50-page long business proposal has been torn and was used as a part of an address book.

Not wanting to be blamed, Tomoyo crumpled the paper and threw it in her waste basket. After all, Eriol could print another one, ne?

Looks like it's the time of the month again for Eriol-kun!

Eriol grumbled under his breath as he stormed inside his office, a sheaf of papers in his hands.

He just came from the President's office awhile ago and found the young President, still slumbering on her desk. Not wanting to disturb her, he quietly picked up his business proposal, placed neatly on her desk, then headed out. But he hadn't even reached the door when he found out something was missing. The graph of the comparison of last year's profits and the current year's. It was the topmost paper and the most important part since it would show the present ranking of the corporation.

He tried to find it as quietly as he could. But then, he was unsuccessful. He couldn't anymore try harder, that is if he didn't want Tomoyo to find him and toss him over London. He'd rather not risk it. He couldn't blame it on her either since she didn't know that he had placed it there on her table. Tomoyo wasn't the type of person who'd read every single business proposal lying on her table unless he had asked her to.

He sat down, frowning. He must've lost it even before he had placed it on her desk. But that wasn't possible since he had seen it! It couldn't have been blown away because (1) the windows are closed, (2) the windows cannot be opened easily by Tomoyo, (3) the air conditioner is not that strong enough to blow it away and (4) he had searched the entire room.

He was still wondering where the heck it could be when the doors opened and in came Nakuru, bounding in like a hyperactive rabbit. He couldn't help but let out an exasperated sigh.

"What do you want, Nakuru?" he asked heavily.

The woman ignored his bored and indifferent tone. "Now, Eriol, please be at home before 6 o'clock. We are going to have a guest tonight!"

Eriol raised a dark eyebrow at her. "And who, may I ask, is that guest?" he asked, although he had a feeling who the woman invited over.

"It's a secret!" she replied haughtily. "Just be home, okay?"

He gave her a withering look. "I can't. I have things to do," he said shortly.

Nakuru folded her arms across her chest. "C'mon, Eriol! You always come home at midnight! You don't eat dinner with me anymore!" She pouted. "I know I'm not a really good cook but hey, I can cook decent food now!"

He snorted. When it comes to Nakuru's dishes, there were only two types: the overly sweet or the overly bland. But of course, he'd rather take the overly bland than the overly sweet. He'd die of diabetes just eating a spoonful of her overly sweet dishes.

"Please, Eriol, and I need your help in cooking. We all know you're a good cook!"

Obviously, the only reason he survived a life with Nakuru was because of his knowledge in cooking. Although he might not be as good as those guys in Iron Chef, he could certainly cook up something plain but tasty.

"Fine, fine!" He waved a hand impatiently. "What time is our guest coming over?"

"At seven."

He shrugged. "I'll see what I can do. If there's nothing to do later, I'll come home. But if there is, just… Just do your best!"

"But what if…"

He glared at her. "If something were to happen to your guest, that would not be my responsibility anymore, okay?"

Nakuru nodded then went out as energetically as when she had came in. Eriol sighed and leaned back. He knew he had to go home early, no matter what happens. After all he couldn't help worry that another accident might occur inside his unit. An accident which involves a mountain of sugar.

He frowned, thinking what he was doing before Nakuru came in bothered him.

Ah, right! Now… Where was that paper?

Tomoyo stepped out of her bathroom after a quick shower, yawning. She had asked Eriol if she could go home earlier today and, to her surprise, he agreed. Eriol had been acting really strange lately. She just had to check on the moon later on if it had turned blue. After all, this was the first time he had let her go home before six.

She slid on a silky blue-violet cocktail dress that barely grazed her knees then started blow-drying her hair. Soon after, she slipped on a pair of silver sandals and wore the necklace Kaho gave her.

"Kaye-chan!" she called and her maid came, bowing slightly to her. She grinned at her. "If anyone calls and looks for me, please tell them I just left. And if Hiiragizawa-kun calls, tell him I jumped over a cliff a while ago."

Although confused, Kaye nodded. "Yes, Mistress."

"Oh, and you guys should eat dinner already, okay? I don't want to see you not eating. There's a lot of food in the kitchen and you shouldn't waste it."

The girl's smile softened at her Mistress. "Yes, Mistress."

"Okay! That's it, I guess!" Tomoyo picked up her purse and started for the door, taking her coat from the waiting maid. "Did you tell Cyrus-san to ready the car?"

"Yes, Mistress. He is already waiting for you outside."

Tomoyo smiled at her widely. "Thanks a lot, Kaye-chan!" she said brightly. "I'll see you later!"

"Please be careful, Mistress."

The ebony-haired heiress soon arrived at a tall building with the help of Cyrus who immediately knew where she was going the moment he saw the paper. She glanced at the piece of paper slash part of Eriol's important document slash her guide to Nakuru's unit.

"She's on the penthouse."

She pressed the button on the elevator and rose to the top of the tower. This must be one of the perks of being the Vice President of Finance, having very large wages that one could buy a penthouse suite. But then, isn't she the President? How come she had never felt those privileges and perks?

It's probably because Hiiragizawa-kun always gives me so much work.

She pouted, waiting for the elevator to open its doors. Sure, he gives her time off and free lunch treats on a restaurant she wants, but she wanted others. Like a trip to a beach or an amusement park. She was more of an outgoing girl, adventurous and loves to have fun. She wasn't built to stay inside a closed space called an office.

She pressed the doorbell and heard someone shuffling inside. She waved brightly at the eyepiece when she noticed it. Then, the door swung open. Only to reveal a grumpy-looking Eriol. Tomoyo frowned.

"I must've gone to the wrong place," she said lightly, grinning at him. "But then…"

"Eriol, is Tomoyo-chan there already?" someone called from the kitchen.

The young man stepped away wordlessly to allow her to come in. He then closed the door quietly and led her inside the living room. "Make yourself at home," he said flatly, gesturing at the living room. "If you need us, we're in the kitchen."

"Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun, shouldn't you be staying here to entertain your guest?" She smiled sweetly at him.

"I'll send for Nakuru." He then disappeared through the portico.

Tomoyo studied the pictures on the side tables for a minute when she heard someone shouting. Nakuru. "WHAT DO YOU MEAN, ENTERTAIN HER? YOU CAN DO IT JUST FINE!"

Eriol. "I'm busy!"

"YOU'RE ALWAYS BUSY! BESIDES, SHE'S THE PRESIDENT!"

"You invited her!"

"STILL! I'M BUSY HERE AS WELL, CAN'T YOU SEE?"

"You can't manage the kitchen without me."

"SURE I CAN! NOW GO! GO! GO!"

Tomoyo giggled as Eriol went out of the kitchen as grumpy as ever, roughly pulling off the blue apron over his clothes. He sat down on the armchair opposite her and folded his arms. "Okay, how would you like to be entertained?"

She faked a shocked expression. "Why, Hiiragizawa-kun, must you imply something like that?" she exclaimed.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Well, now, Daidouji, let's see who's mind is dirtier!"

"You are, Hiiragizawa-kun," she replied as she flipped her long hair over her shoulders. "Did you really think I was thinking about that? My, my, Hiiragizawa-kun, I didn't know you'd be thinking about that."

He scowled. "Very well, what were you thinking then?"

"I was thinking of something else, my dear Hiiragizawa-kun." Her smile was impeccable as always.

Not wanting to prolong that pointless topic, he decided to just keep quiet and stare at the coffee table. After all, he was just sent by Nakuru to keep the young President at bay until dinner's ready. If it would ever get ready.

"Ne, Hiiragizawa-kun, you're awfully quiet tonight." Her sweet voice startled his train of thoughts.

He turned to look at her but nearly jumped a foot away when he saw her face a few inches from his. He slightly pulled back, color creeping up his cheeks, and scowled at her. She tilted her head to one side, confused.

"D-Don't scare me like that!" he snapped, hating himself for being caught off-guard.

She pouted. "I wasn't going to scare you!" she replied matter-of-factly. "You scared yourself, silly!"

He eyed her intently before taking in her clothes, something he hadn't noticed before. She looked more different than how she looked like at the corporation. It was probably because of the dress since he had always seen her in a pair of slacks and a blouse nowadays. Or it could've been her hair since she had always tied her hair in a ponytail or braid or in a neat French or Psyche knot. Whatever it is, she looked definitely more different… More feminine… Prettier…

Eriol blushed at that thought. He'd never regarded anyone pretty or beautiful or whatever. He never took into account their physical appearance given that he was more interested with their brains. But then again, Tomoyo Daidouji had both beauty and brains, something he seldom see in a woman.

Again, her voice disrupted his thoughts. "Hiiragizawa-kun, you're blushing again! I wouldn't be surprised if I find out you have a crush on me!"

Before Eriol could even come back with a snappy, irritating remark, Nakuru had called them for dinner and Tomoyo immediately jumped to her feet and left him since she thought he was still caught up in his own thoughts.

He let out a sigh. Of all the people Nakuru could've invited for dinner, it just had to be the President. And of all the people who could've become the President, it just had to be Tomoyo Daidouji. He stood up, sliding his hands in his pockets.

Now he knew that the whole cosmic universe had been conspiring to make his life miserable.

"Okay, what's your favorite color?"

"Beige and white."

"And your favorite food?"

"Sushi and pasta."

Eriol sighed for the nth time as he listened to the two women chat continuously about who-knows-what! He felt himself trapped between two walls that wouldn't stop babbling.

"What about you, Hiiragizawa-kun? What's your favorite food?" Tomoyo asked him nonchalantly. "And your favorite color?"

"It's cake and black," Nakuru replied for him.

Eriol threw her a scathing look. "Thank you for replying, Hiiragizawa-kun!"

Tomoyo giggled lightly. "I know how to bake a cake," she told them. "Maybe I should bake you some other time."

"Really? Thanks!"

They continued to eat until Nakuru posed a question that startled both President and CEO. "I want to know if you guys are dating."

Tomoyo nearly spat out the wine she was drinking while Eriol muttered profanities under his breath. Nakuru glared at him, starting another homily about cursing in front of the food.

"Where the heck do you get those ideas, Nakuru?" Eriol demanded.

"You see, Evans told me something like that," the auburn-haired girl said thoughtfully. "He told me that's why you guys often spend time a lot and Eriol always treats you out to lunch, etc."

Tomoyo smiled politely at Nakuru, wiping her mouth daintily with a napkin. "That's not true, Nakuru-chan," she replied patiently. "Hiiragizawa-kun just wants to make sure I'm doing my job. And, well, because he's generous in treating people to lunch."

Nakuru pouted. "Oh? But isn't that boring?" she said slowly. "It'd be great if you guys were really dating! You'd make a cute couple!"

Eriol rolled his eyes. "That isn't going to happen until the moon turns blue!"

Tomoyo agreed with him, smiling now awkwardly.

"But, Tomoyo-chan, don't you even like Eriol a bit?" the older woman pressed on. "I mean, you guys spend a lot of time together. You should've gotten to know each other already." Tomoyo glanced at Eriol and let out a derisive laugh. "What? You don't like him?"

"Of course I do!" she replied playfully. "He's the cutest and the grumpiest boyfriend I've ever had, ne, Hiiragizawa-kun?"

Nakuru's jaw drop and Eriol swore inaudibly, ignoring the rising color in his face. He then stared intently at his food as if it was more interesting than their conversation.

"Oh, Hiiragizawa-kun! It's not that bad!" Tomoyo hit his arm jokingly. "At least you've got a pretty girl like me to be your girlfriend!" She giggled again.

"So it's really true!" Nakuru exclaimed happily.

"No, it's not!" Eriol protested just as Tomoyo grinned widely. "Daidouji, you're digging a deeper hole for us!"

The President ignored him. "You know what, Nakuru-chan, I just found something really amusing," she said and the cinnamon-eyed woman listened keenly. "Did you know that…?" She leaned forward and whispered something in Nakuru's ear, and then the two girls giggled.

Eriol glared at the both of them. "I swear if I hear my name there—"

"Here's another!" Tomoyo again bent forward and spoke in an undertone in Nakuru's ear. Again, they giggled.

The young man scowled at the both of them and excused himself to the bathroom, muttering something under his breath that sounded distinctively like "Women!".

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